Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Merida Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Merida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $723 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,220 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,717 in Merida, rent included.

Phuket costs about 75% more than Merida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Merida 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$10.17 VES 5,669

-53.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$45.85 VES 25.5K

-1.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$10.13 VES 5,646

-16.78%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.56 VES 868

87.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.14 VES 633

-39.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.83 VES 461

-55.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.17 VES 653

105.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.49 VES 830

149.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$2.13 VES 1,188

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$2.52 VES 1,405

-27.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.60 VES 891

35.62%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.03 VES 1,132

8.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$5.59 VES 3,113

253.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.29 VES 3,506

-42.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$7.28 VES 4,058

85.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$4.94 VES 2,753

-33.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.07 VES 595

50.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.66 VES 922

45.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.04 VES 579

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.98 VES 546

56.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.18 VES 659

25.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.24 VES 693

-20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.81 VES 1,008

-71.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$4.11 VES 2,288

7.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.96 VES 6,107

76.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.18 VES 656

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.38 VES 771

96.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.29 VES 162

372.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$4.05 VES 2,259

-25.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$2.47 VES 1,379

-59.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.51 VES 285

166.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$44.3K VES 24.7M

-36.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$37.2K VES 20.8M

-11.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

$13.38 VES 7,454

809.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

$9.94 VES 5,537

36.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$36.89 VES 20.6K

-50.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$25.15 VES 14.0K

139.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$15.07 VES 8,399

13.74%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$6.96 VES 3,876

24.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

$58.1 VES 32.4K

1092.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$90.5 VES 50.4K

-34.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$39.48 VES 22.0K

-11.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$85.0 VES 47.3K

34.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$65.0 VES 36.2K

28.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$118 VES 65.9K

418.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$89.2 VES 49.7K

389.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$208 VES 115.9K

907.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$192 VES 106.9K

686.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,155 VES 643.5K

224.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,189 VES 662.7K

119.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$286 VES 159.2K

77.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $118 in Merida. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 78% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $46.00 in Merida. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $237 in Merida – so Merida wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Phuket vs Merida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 75% more than Merida, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,084 in Merida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Merida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $723 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $58.1 in Merida. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Merida, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Merida costs $723 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Merida. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.